Amy gets on her running shoes to say thanks

A Mayfield girl is taking to the track to give back to the group which has improved her confidence while coming to terms with her hearing loss.

St Luke’s Primary School pupil Amy McLaughlin (10), will run nearly two miles this Saturday at Dalkeith Campus to raise money for Children in Need, which supports the group that has changed Amy’s life – Deaf Action Edinburgh.

Her mum, nurse Angela Marshall (43), explained the impact the group has had on tinnitus sufferer Amy, who has had ear problems since she was nine months old.

“When I first took her to the group she wasn’t keen to go. But she absolutely loved it.

“She is getting great support, she has made some great friends, all the activities are paid for and the workers are absolutely brilliant.

“We can’t thank them enough. It’s become a lifeline for us. We don’t know where we would be if it wasn’t for them. It has definitely improved her confidence.”

Now Lasswade Athletics Club member Amy aims to give back with her charity run.

Mum Angela added: “I’m really proud of her. We were just talking about Deaf Action and she came out and said ‘Mum, I want to do something to say thank you to them’. So this is her way of giving back.”

Alex Furneaux, the youth worker co-ordinator at Deaf Action Edinburgh, is delighted with Amy’s gesture: “I think it’s absolutely fantastic. Amy has come such a long way with in the group since she joined a year ago. It’s really touching for a 10 year old to give back, it’s such a selfless act.

“I know she was struggling with her hearing loss, but since she has come in she has met a lot of people the same age as her with different stages of hearing loss who have the shared understanding and experience of what it’s like to be a young deaf person.

“So often young deaf people feel isolation and bullying. There are so many different issues and barriers you can face, so it’s great to have a group like this where that pressure is out of the window.”